When an Electric field does work on a charge, which equation should i use?

AI Thread Summary
When a positive charge is moved in a positive electric field, the work done by the field can be calculated using the equation W = - (delta V) x (q) or W = + (delta V) x (q), depending on the context. The sign of the work depends on the direction of the charge's movement relative to the electric field. If the charge moves in the direction of the field, the work is positive; if it moves against the field, the work is negative. The convention for the sign of work is crucial for accurate calculations in electrostatics. Understanding these principles is essential for solving problems related to electric fields and charges.
khamaar
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
Consider an positive electric field and a positive charge, q inside this field. Suppose the FIELD does work on this charge and takes it from point A to B. Now i am trying to figure out what sign i have to put with this work..

which equation should i use here?

W= - (delta V) x (q) [V=voltage W=work done by field q=charge]

W= + (delta V) x (q)Thanks...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I'm trying to remember what the convention is...positive charge in a positive field...negative, but I'm not absolutely sure on that...that probably something you could google.
 
This is from Griffiths' Electrodynamics, 3rd edition, page 352. I am trying to calculate the divergence of the Maxwell stress tensor. The tensor is given as ##T_{ij} =\epsilon_0 (E_iE_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij} E^2)+\frac 1 {\mu_0}(B_iB_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij} B^2)##. To make things easier, I just want to focus on the part with the electrical field, i.e. I want to find the divergence of ##E_{ij}=E_iE_j-\frac 1 2 \delta_{ij}E^2##. In matrix form, this tensor should look like this...
Thread 'Applying the Gauss (1835) formula for force between 2 parallel DC currents'
Please can anyone either:- (1) point me to a derivation of the perpendicular force (Fy) between two very long parallel wires carrying steady currents utilising the formula of Gauss for the force F along the line r between 2 charges? Or alternatively (2) point out where I have gone wrong in my method? I am having problems with calculating the direction and magnitude of the force as expected from modern (Biot-Savart-Maxwell-Lorentz) formula. Here is my method and results so far:- This...
Back
Top